£1300 to spend on first bike

deejaysee

So i've narrowed my choice down to two bikes but i'm open to suggestions hence the post.

CAAD12 or the Defy Advance 2 2016

Would the Defy be classed as low grade Carbon?
At the moment i'm swinging towards the Defy, mainly because i'm a massive sucker for black and white frames

mrb123

Wheelbase were doing Cannondale Synapse carbon 105 bikes for a grand. Would leave you with some funds for pedals, shoes etc.

ic.

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19708912#p19708912]MrB123[/url] wrote:

Wheelbase were doing Cannondale Synapse carbon 105 bikes for a grand. Would leave you with some funds for pedals, shoes etc.

+1

deejaysee

Have funds on top for accessories so the £1300 is purely for bike

ic.

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19708992#p19708992]deejaysee[/url] wrote:

Have funds on top for accessories so the £1300 is purely for bike

OK, so buy the Synapse and a decent set of wheels to go on it

EDIT, ignore that, only tiny size left anyway

deejaysee

yeah only 54 frame at that deal.
I aint no midget

bobmcstuff

54 is hardly tiny! But obviously if it's not your size then it's no good.

The CAAD 12 has more aggressive geometry than the Defy, so depending on what kind of riding you're planning the Defy might be a better bet for a first bike because it has "endurance" geometry (the CAAD is designed for racing). I had a Defy (only an alu one though) as a first bike and no complaints. The CAADs are nice and would be my choice now but I already have 2 bikes with more relaxed geometry so I'd like something a bit more aggressive.

There's loads of other bikes in that price range so there's stacks of alternatives. I think if it was me I would be looking at the Genesis Volare (steel) if I did want the more aggressive geo or the Volant (alu)/Equilibrium (steel) if I wanted the all day type geometry. If I was set on an aluminium race bike like the CAAD then I'd probably get a Kinesis Racelight.

mrb123

Plenty of other places have the Synapse in bigger sizes and within your budget.

deejaysee

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19709046#p19709046]bobmcstuff[/url] wrote:

54 is hardly tiny! But obviously if it's not your size then it's no good.

The CAAD 12 has more aggressive geometry than the Defy, so depending on what kind of riding you're planning the Defy might be a better bet for a first bike because it has "endurance" geometry (the CAAD is designed for racing). I had a Defy (only an alu one though) as a first bike and no complaints. The CAADs are nice and would be my choice now but I already have 2 bikes with more relaxed geometry so I'd like something a bit more aggressive.

There's loads of other bikes in that price range so there's stacks of alternatives. I think if it was me I would be looking at the Genesis Volare (steel) if I did want the more aggressive geo or the Volant (alu)/Equilibrium (steel) if I wanted the all day type geometry. If I was set on an aluminium race bike like the CAAD then I'd probably get a Kinesis Racelight.

Thanks mate - just the sort of response i was hoping for.....ie the geometry etc.
Food for thought

lakesluddite

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19709001#p19709001]deejaysee[/url] wrote:

yeah only 54 frame at that deal.
I aint no midget

:shock: Not sure whether to be offended or not, given I ride 52cm frames!

southdownswolf

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19709139#p19709139]LakesLuddite[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19709001#p19709001]deejaysee[/url] wrote:

yeah only 54 frame at that deal.
I aint no midget

:shock: Not sure whether to be offended or not, given I ride 52cm frames!

Here we go, small person starting a fight again....

bobmcstuff

I'm usually around a 52-54 (at 5'8", so short-ish), it's unusual to see them in sales as they seem to be a common size (sales always seem to have loads of 48s and 60s...). For reference the "medium" Defy is supposed to be equivalent to a 54.

Small frames are 50 or below IMO!

Good deal on that Synapse

drlodge

Small frames are those that fit 650 wheels ;-)

mpatts

Whichever you like the best. They are both the same.